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[1]I SAY, then, has God rejected his people? Far be it. For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
[2]God has not rejected his people which he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah? How he complained to God against Israel, saying,
[3]My LORD, they have killed your prophets and have demolished your altars; and I am left alone; and they seek my life.
[4]And it was said to him in a vision: Behold I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not knelt on their knees to worship Baal.
[5]Even so at the present time a remnant is preserved, elected by the grace.
[6]And if by grace, then it is not by works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if by works, then it is not by grace: otherwise work is no more work.
[7]What then? Israel has not obtained that which he sought; but the elected ones have obtained it, and the rest were blinded in their hearts.
[8]As it is written, God has given them a stubborn spirit, eyes that cannot see, and ears that cannot hear, to this very day.
[9]And David said, Let their table become a snare, and a trap and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them.
[10]Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and let their backs be bowed down always.
[11]I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? Far be it. But rather by their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, in order to make them zealous.
[12]Now if their stumbling has resulted in riches to the world, and their condemnation in riches to the Gentiles; how much more is their restoration?
[13]It is to you Gentiles that I speak, inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, and perhaps magnify my ministry:
[14]But if I am able to make those who are my flesh zealous, I may thus save some of them.
[15]And if their rejection has resulted in reconciliation of the world, how much more will their restoration be? Indeed it will be life from the dead.
[16]For if the first fruit is holy, the rest of the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
[17]And if some of the branches were cut off, and you who are a branch of a wild olive tree have been grafted in their place, and you have become a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
[18]Do not boast over the branches. For if you boast, it is not you who sustains the root, but the root sustains you.
[19]Perhaps you may say, The branches were cut off that I might be grafted in their place.
[20]Well; they were cut off because of their unbelief, but you exist by faith. Be not highminded, but fear God.
[21]For if God did not spare the natural branches, it may well be he will not spare you.
[22]Consider therefore the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but on you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also will be cut off.
[23]And even they, if they do not abide in their unbelief, will be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
[24]For if you who have been cut from the wild olive tree, which is natural to you, and grafted contrary to your nature to become a good olive tree: how much more fruitful would they be, if they were grafted into their natural olive tree?
[25]I am desirous, my brethren, that you should know this mystery, so that you may not be wise in your own conceits; for blindness of heart has to some degree befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in.
[26]And then all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, A deliverer shall come out of Zion, and he shall remove ungodliness from Jacob:
[27]And then they shall have the same covenant from me, when I have forgiven their sins.
[28]Now according to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But according to election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
[29]For God does not withdraw his gift and his call.
[30]Just as you were formerly disobedient to God and have now obtained mercy because of their disobedience,
[31]Likewise, they are also disobedient now to the mercy which is upon you, that there may be mercy upon them also.
[32]For God has included all men in disobedience, that he might have mercy on every man.
[33]O the depth of the riches, the wisdom, and the knowledge of God! for no man has searched his judgment, and his ways are inscrutable.
[34]For who has known the mind of the LORD? or who has been his counsellor?
[35]Or who has first given to him and then received from him?
[36]For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to him be glory and blessing, for ever and ever. Amen.
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